Advent Week #4, Part 2: Change by Force? From the Heart?

walking in the truth during Advent

Luther on Church & State, Part 2 *

Disclaimer #1:  Once again, I repeat . . . this devotional is NOT directly referencing the Presidential election last month . . . even if it could be construed as such. Please give it a chance. Disclaimer #2:  It's another long one. Please give it a chance. Disclaimer #3:  C'mon! I'm letting Martin Luther do the heavy lifting again . . . That should count for something!

Dr. Luther's devotional thoughts + Truth from Scripture

"Again you say, 'The temporal power is not forcing men to believe; it is simply seeing to it externally that no one deceives the people by false doctrine; how could heretics otherwise be restrained?' Answer: This the bishops should do; it is a function entrusted to them & not to the princes. Heresy can never be restrained by force. One will have to tackle the problem in some other way, for heresy must be opposed & dealt with otherwise than with the word.
      "Here God's word must do the fighting. If it does not succeed, certainly the temporal power will not succeed either, even if it were to drench the world in blood. Heresy is a spiritual matter which you cannot hack to pieces with iron, consume with fire, or drown in water. God's word along avails here, as Paul says in II Corinthians 10:4-5, "Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty in God to destroy every argument and proud obstacle that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and to take every thought captive in the service of Christ."
      Moreover, faith and heresy are never so strong as when men oppose them by sheer force, without God's word. For men count it certain that such force is for a wrong cause & is directed against the right, since it proceeds without God's word & knows not how to further its cause except by naked force, as brute beasts do. Even in temporal affairs force can be used only after the wrong has been legally condemned. How much less possible it is to act with force, without justice & God's word, in these lofty spiritual matters!
      "See, therefore, what fine, clever nobles they are! They would drive out heresy, but set about it in such a way that they only strengthen the opposition, rousing suspicion against themselves & justifying the heretics.
      "My friend, if you wish to drive out heresy, you must find some way to tear it first of all from the heart & completely turn men's wills away from it. With force you will not stop it, but only strengthen it. What do you gain by strengthening heresy in the heart, while weakening only its outward expressing & forcing the tongue to lie?
      "God's word, however, enlightens the heart, & so all heresies & errors vanish from the hearty of their own accord."

A Prayer for Advent **

(St. 1) O Savior, rend the heavens wide; Come down, come down with mighty stride;
Unlock the gates, the doors break down; Unbar the way to heaven's crown.

(St. 6) Sin's dreadful doom upon us lies; Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.
O come, lead us with mighty hand From exile to our promised land.

(St. 7) There shall we all our praises bring And sing to You, our Savior King;
There shall we laud You and adored Forever and forevermore.

** SOURCE:  "O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide," Lutheran Service Book, #355.

* SOURCE:  Excerpted from Martin Luther, Luther's Works, Vol. 45, via The LCMS Reporter, May 2016.

Missionary News **

** Some major revisions have been made since the original post.

Pastor Stuart & Debra Freese are the two missionaries that Lois & I have adopted. They are preparing to serve in West Africa; it looks like they are on track to begin their mission & ministry over there soon after the 1st of the year. They are spending their time now getting ready for this assignment, which includes traveling to spread the word about the mission work in Africa & raising support with the help of Gary Thies. Some of you know Gary from his work via Mission Central. [http://missioncentral.us/missioncentral/welcome] I have Stu & Deb's permission to share the following information with you.

"Change of plans--serving in Burkina Faso, West Africa. God has changed our plans. We will no longer be serving in Ghana, West Africa, but in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Through prayer & careful consideration it has been determined that God is leading us to this mission calling . . . God will continue to bless the work in Ghana through the capable hands of the missionaries & national pastors living there.
Specific prayer requests:  That we are able to learn the French & Moore' languages . . . For our transition from the Ghana mission call to the Burkina Faso mission call . . . For the mission work in West Africa . . . For the people of Burkina Faso so they are willing to hear & share God's Word . . . That God would provide men who want to be trained as leaders in Burkina Faso.

• Email: debra.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Email:  stuart.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Facebook:  www.facebook.com/FreesesinAfrica/ (NOTE:  You don't need a Facebook account to view this page.)
• Website:  http://debrafreese.wix.com/freesesinafrica
• Giving Page:  http://www.lcms.org/freese